Cheers to the E.U.
The week's news at a glance.
Dublin
Irish voters this week gave the European Union permission to expand eastward to include former Soviet-bloc nations. Two years ago, the other 14 E.U. nations approved a treaty that would allow it to admit Eastern European nations such as Poland, Latvia, and Hungary. Due to a quirk in its constitution, Ireland was the only European nation that required a popular vote to approve the agreement. The Irish defeated the treaty in a desultory, low-turnout vote last year, embarrassing the government. So this year the prime minister spearheaded a major pro-treaty campaign, and it won in a landslide. “The Irish people just made about 100 million friends in Central and Eastern Europe,” said one Latvian diplomat. Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller raised a pint of Guinness and sang, “I love you, Ireland!”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the George Santos expulsion vote
Cartoons Artists take on Santa versus Santos, his X account, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Places that are already seeing a boost in tourism due to climate change
The Explainer Warmer temperatures are moving travelers north
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
6 snow-or-sun hotels to visit this winter
The Week Recommends Make your winter dreams a reality at these properties
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published